Operating device for bridge-gates



(No Model. 3 sheets-s eet 1.

B. ZAREMBA. OPERATING DBVIGE EOE BRIDGE GATES.

Patented Jan. 3, 1893.

a? 71 Ass es I M I J rfze ys.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

ZAREMB'A. OPERATING DEVICE FOR BRIDGE GATES. No. 489,113. Patented Jan.3, 1893.

wffneis'es: Irzv emfo 1'.-

Iiward ZaremZa;

a Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

E. ZARBMBA. OPERATING DEVICE FOR 13 No. 489,113.

RIDGE GATES.

Patented Jan. 3, 1893.

Jae/4M Gates, of which the following is a specification.

llnrrEn STn'rEs PATENT OF IC EDWARD ZAREMBA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

OPERATBNG DEVIOE FOR BRIDGE-GATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 489,113, dated January3, 1893.

Application filed March 5, 1892. Serial No. 423.835. (No model-l To allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that; l, EDWARD ZAREMBA, a citizen of the United States,residing at. Chi cage, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Operating Devices for Bridge-This invention relates to means for operatiug the gates employed toshutoil' travel upon bridges when the latter are required to be opened.By preference I employin my invention two gates at each approach, one ateach side of the roadway, and provide each with a separate motor wherebyit may be opened and closed. These motors are electrically controlled bythe bridge tender through. the medium of a switch and a current reverserlocated upon thednidge, and suitable electrical connection llhe latter.arepreferably formed in part of corresponding contact devices so locatedat the end of the bridge and at the abutments that; when the bridge isclosed they will be in contact and complete the various circuits wherebythe gate motors are energized.

The invention consists in the novel coinbinations of parts anddevices,and in the novel construction of the several parts hereinaftersetforth.

In the aceompanyingdrmvings l igurel isa plan of a bridge provided withmy invention; Fig. 2 isa diagram of the electric circuits; Fig. 3 is anend elevation and Fig. 4 a plan of the switch device; Fig. 51's anextended surface view of the switch c linder; Fig. 6 is a plan of thecurrent reverser; Fig. 7 is a vertical section of one of the gate posts;Fig. 8 is a section of same on line 88 of Fig. 7; Figs. 9 and 10 aresectional views showing the abutment connections for the electricalconductors, and Fig. ll is a section on the line 111l of Fig.9. Y

In the drawings A represents an ordinary turn bridge having a roadway a,which for the sake of clearness in distinguishing the right and leftsides of the roadway is shown as provided with two railway track lines aa B and C- are the abutmcntsof the approaches at either side, the formerbeing guarded by gates BR and B L, and the latter by gates O R and C L.The gates designated in part by the letter R are in both instancesplaced over the right. hand side of the road;

way and those marked with L over thc let't hand side. The gates havemotors D, D l), and 1), one for each gate, which are preferably electricmotors of any approved construe tion, and each motor is adapted tooperate a worm shaft (Z meshing with the gear (1" upon shaft (1 carryingthe worm (l meshing with the gear d upon the journal (l carrying thearms d" which support; the gate and whichare oscillated upon saidjournal in the usual man; ner. The motor and gearing may be inclosed inasuit-ablehox or post d which may also support the journal of the gatearms. I

The gates are intended to be operated in the following order: Supposingthe bridge about to be opened, the bridge tender first; lowers one'ofthe right hand gates and then the other. When all teams have passed oll?the bridge and everything is clear, the two left hand gates are closedsimultaneously, and these gates are preferably so connected so that. asingle move of the switch willjenergize the motors of both. The roadwayis new com,- pletely protector], and the bridge opened. \Vhilc thebridge is open, the switch and re verser are properly adjusted so thatas soon as the electricalconnections between the switch and the gatemotors are restored by the closing movementof the bridge, such movementcausing contactbet ween the contact points upon the bridge ends andthose at the abutments, the motors are all set in operation, in a reverse direction and made to lift all the gates together. Theelectricalconstruction bywhich these results are obtained issubstantially the following: Upon the bridge I providea switch deviceand current rcverser, the former consisting of a rotatable cylinder E ofnonconducting material and armed with studs or projections adapted tooperate the keys hereinafter mentioned,the studs being so located as toenable the bridge tender by turningthe cylinder to bring the proper keysinto action to secure movement in the order described by the gates.'lhis cyliuderis mounted between two rows of spring keys l l and l and GG G the first series of keys being located in and controlling thearmature circuits of the motors, and the other series being similarlylocated and serving the same purpose With reference to the field coilcircuits. These keys are each adapted to be depressed by the pro ectionsof the switch cylinder, so as to make an electrical junction with theadjacent contact plates H or J, there being one such plate for each rowof keys. This part of my invention is more fully described in asubsequent part of this specification.

The construction of reverser which Iprefer consists of two pairs ofcon-ducting plates, each in the form of an arc of a circle, and one pairK K being arcs of a smaller circle than the other pair LL and placedwithin the latter as shown. Supported on a center within these circlesis a swinging lever M, carrying two pairs of brushes m nand m n', eachpair adapted to establish an electrical connection between one of theouter plates and one of the inner plates at a point diametricallyopposite the connection made by the other pair of brushes between theother parts of the reverser. To reverse the current the brush lever isturned on its center so as to bring the outer brushes m and m each incontact with the other one of the outer plates K or K. In otherwords,supposing the position of the lever shown at Fig. 6 in the full lines tobe the position occupied by it when the gates are to be opened, in orderto reverse the current preparatory to closing the gates the lever ismoved to the position shown by broken lines in the same figure. Theplate K of the reverser is connected to the positive pole of a battery Nand plate K to the negative pole thereof, as shown. cally connected tothe contact plate ll of the switch. A second battery (which however isnot necessariiy present it the resistance of the armature and the fieldcoil circuits is properly balanceih) is connected at its positive poleto the contact plate J of the switch.

The keys of the switch areclcctricaliy connected as shown by the diagramgiven at Fig. 2, as follows: Key F to one terminal of armature circuitof motor I) of gate l3 Key F to one terminal of armature circuit ofmotor D of gate 0 It. Key Win one terminal ot' armature circuit oi motorI) of gate B L. Key F to one terminal of armature circuit of motor I)"of gate 0 L. Key G to one terminal of iicld circuit; of motor I) of gate1 It. Key (1' to one terminal of. licld circuit of motor I)' of gate (1it. Key (l to one terminal of ficld circuit of motor 1) of gate L. Key(l to onc'tcrminal of field circuit of motor .l) ot' gate 0' L. Thisincludes one terminal of each armature and of each field circuit: Theother terminals of the armature circuits are all connected and lead toplate L of the 'roverscr, and the other terminals of tho field circuitsare all connocted and lead to the negative pole of battery O.

The surface of the swilchcylindcr is shown in cxtcnso at Fig. 5, and inorder that the disposition ot" the studs therein may be underfour setsfor the field circuits.

The plate L is electri stood the following explanation wili'be helpful:The studs are adapted to depress the spring keys in a certain order, tothe end that the electrical connections may be madeto the gates in theorder in which they are to be closed, and since gate B R is closed atone point of time,gate O Rat alater period, gates B L and O L at a stilllater or third period, and all four gates are raised at a fourth or lastperiod, making fourperiods of operation,

it follows that there must be provided four sets of studs for thearmature circuits and The spring keys are arranged so that they occupydifferent planes transverse of the cylinder, and hence the studs 'for'operating the armature keys are arranged in the circumferential lines w,and those for operating the field keys are arranged along similar lines00. V

In addition to the four periods of operation there is also one of rest,viz: when the gates are not in use, and hence the surface of the switchcylinder is divided into ten equal lougitudinal divisions, five for thearmature circuits indicated by lines '3 and five for the field circuitsindicated by the lines 2. The various studs for the armature circuitsare therefore located as follows: the one operating ke'y F at 1, for keyF at 2, for key 1? at 3, and for allsaid keys and employed in openingthe gates'at 4, 5 and 6. The studs for the field circuits are located,for key G at 7, for key G at 8, for key G at 9, and for all said keyswhen opening the gates at l0, l1 and 12. \Vhen' the apparatus is atrest, either open or closed, the vacant longitudinal lines are oppositethe keys and'ali circuits are broken.

In order to obviate all necessity for carrying the electricalconnections between the switch andthe motors iind'e'r water, thoseconnections are all preferably mado'with make and break contacts locatedupon the bridge ends and thc abutments, so that such' connections may beseparated each time the bridge is opened and reunited each time thebridge is closed. The construct n which I have devised and prefer forthese connections is the following: A movable block P is provided withways 1) upon the under side of each end of the bridge and with one ormore springs Q drawing the block outward or toward the abutment. Thisblock carries six spindles S, cach provided with bcaringssand with aspring R confined thereon between one of the bearings and the shoulder1- of the spindle, the spring exerting its pressure toward the abutment.Each spindle has alsoa contact plate '1 upon its outer end, the samebeing in electrical connection with the switch. Upon each abutment is astationary board U in which are supported the metallic platesV, suitablyconnected to the motors, and one-for each spindle, and to the top ofthis board is attached a guide plate U projecting toward the bridge andhaving a center recess u. Against. the outer edge of this recess theroller 1,carricd by block l,is held when thebridgo is closed, ormany-easy the tension. of spring the roller lying within the recess whenthe bridge is fully closed, and allowing the block to move toward theabutment and bring about active contact between the spindles and theplates V, and thus completing the various circuits. When the bridgemoves the guide plate forces theblock P back and separates the contactsT and V so that the circuits are to all broken, and remain thus untilthe bridge closes, This construction prevents any fric tion between thecontacts during the move ments of the bridge. The springs upon thespindles automatically adjust the latter and maintain them in operativeposition at proper times. Fig. 9 shows the position of the block P andits spindles when the bridge is closed,

and Fig. 10 shows the electrical connections severed, the bridgebeingpartly open.

The operation of-my device is substantially as f0llows:-Supposi g thereversing lever to be in the position given in full lines at Fig.

6, the current from battery N will. flow from the positive pole of thatbattery to plate K of the reverser, thence through the brush to plate L,thence to the switch and from there f to the motors as the latter areconnected to y the switch by the revolution of the cylinders From themotors the current returns through the electrical connection to theplate L of the reverser, thence through the brush and plate K back tothebattery. It the re verser lever be moved to the position given in dottedlines, then the ciirrent will ii'ow'froirr 135 the positive pole of thebatteryto plate K,

brush, plate L,1not0rs,switch,platcL',brush,

plate K and back to battery, thus giving a a reverse current. When thereverse'r lever is held vertically the circuit is broken by reason 0 ofthe lack ot contact by the outer brushes with plates L and L and the.motors are stationary. litherthe current through the armature or fieldcoils could be made reversible.

I use a reversible currcntin the armatures.

.45 It now the bridge tender turns the cylinder 15' of the switch, sothat stud 1 will depress key F and stud 7 depress key G, this causes acurrent-to flow from the positive pole of battery O to piate J throughkey G and wire to 5o the field coil of motor I), and back through thewire to the negative pole of said battery. If the reversing lever standstoward the right, a current flows from battery N through the reverser,plate II, key F and thence by wire connectionsthroughthe armaturcof saidmotorl) and back to plate Landthcnceinto the battery. If the lever bemoved to the left the current is reversed. In this manner the motor 1)works in either direction independen tlyof the others. if the bridgetender now gives the switch cylinder a onefifth revolution, the studs 2and 8 will depress keys F and G respectively,and the current will flowfrom battery 0 through key G and the wire connections to the field coilof motor D and thence back to the negative pole of said battery. Also acurrent from battery N will pass through the rc'vcrser, plate Ii, keyIt" to the armature of said motor and back from the armatn re to thercverser and battery or the reverse of this, according to the positionof the reversing lever. With another one-fifth revolution of thecylinder E, the keys F and G2 are depressed, giving a current frombattery 0 through G2 to the field coils of motors D and D and fromthence back to the negative pole of the battery. Also a current passesfrom battery N through the reverscr, plate ll, key F to the armatures ofboth said motors and back therefrom to the reverser and battery, or thereverse of this according to the position of the reversing lever. Withthe next onefifth revolution of the switch cylinder, the

studs 4, 5 aud 6 depress all the armature keys and the studs 10, 11 and12 depress all the field keys and thus establish circuits including allthe motors and energizing them to open the gates. The speed of themotors should be reduced bya suitable spur or worm gearing to aboutthree revolutions per minute and a friction clutch upon the shaft of thegate arm will take care of any extra mot on of the'motors. Bydisconnecting the gearing the gates can be operated by hand.

It is obvious that many features of my invcntion are capable of use atrailwaycrossiugs and other places where moving br dges are not employed,and hence I do not wish to be limited in my claims to a turn bridgeexcept where such bridge is specifically made an-elemcntet-the subjectmatter g fi I claim:-

1. The combination with a turn bridge and its approaches, of a gate orgates guarding each approach, motors for, operating sald gates, a switchupon the bridge for controlling the electric currents whereby the motorsare set in operation, an electric generator and electrical connectionsbetween the switch and motors, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a turn bridge and its approaches, of a gatcorgates for guarding each approach, motors'for operating said gates, aswitch and current reverser upon the bridge for controlling the electriccurrents whereby the motors are set in operation an electric generatorand electrical connections between the switch and motors,substantialiyas specified.

, .3. The combination with a-turn bridge and its approaches, of a gateor gates guarding each approach, motors foroperating said gates, aswitch upon the bridge for control- I ling the electric currents wherebythe motors are set in operation, an electric generator, and electricalconnections adapted to make and break the circuits between the switch.and motors, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a turn bridge and its approaches, of a gate orgates guarding each approach, motors for operating said gates, a switchand current rcverser upon the bridge for controlling the electriccurrents whereby the motors are set in operation, an

scans 5. The con'ibina-tion with the turn bridge and its gate motors, ofthe switch upon the bridge consisting of the'cylinderhaving' studs, thesprlng keys and the contact plates, the

I keys and plates being electrically connected in the circuits forsetting the motors in operation, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a gate motor and its armature and fieldcircuits, of a switch consisting 0tv a rotatable cylinder having a pairof studs upon its surface, a pair of keys located one in the armaturecircuit and one in the field circuit, 'and each adaptedto be engaged byone of said studs, and contact.

plates located one in each of said circuits and 1n proximity to saidkeys so as to act therewith inncompleting. the respective circuits,

substantially as specified.

7. The combinatioi. with a gate motor and its armature and fieldcircuits, of a switch consisting of a rotatable cylinder having a pairof studs upon its surface, a pair of keys located one in the armaturecircuit and one in the field circuit and each adapted to be en-.

gaged by one of said studs, and contact plates located one in each ofsaid circuits and in proximity to said keys so as to act therewith incompleting the respective circuits, said studs and keys being relativelyarranged so .as to insure the simultaneous completion of both circuits,substantially as specified.

8. The combination with a plurality of gate motors and their respectivearmature and field circuits, of a switch consisting of a retataolecylinder having upon its surface a separate pair of studs for eachmotor, a sepa rate pair of keys for each motor, and contact plates alsolocated in said circuits and acting with the keys to complete the same,one of each pair of said keys beinglocated in the armaturecircuit, andthe other in the field circuit of the motor, and each pair thereof beingalso adapted to be simultaneously depressed by the studs uponthecylindercorresponding to'the same motor, substantially as specified.

9. The combinatlon'with the turn bridge, the gates and themotors for thegates, of electrical devices under the control of the bridge tender forsetting-saidmotors in operation, the circuit connections between thebridge and the motors having make andbreak contacts, substantially asset forthw 10. The combination ofthe movable block P carryiugcontactplates upon; the bridge, devices for moving 's'aid block and. the abutment contact plates, with the electrical connections between. the bridgeand the motors, substantially as set forth. I v i 11. The combinationwith the bridge and the several gates guarding the approaches, of aseparate motorffor each gate, a switch upon the bridge for controllingthe electric currents whereby the several motors are set in operation,an electric generator and electric connections between the switch andmotors, substantially as specified. 12. The combination with the bridgeand the several gates guarding the approaches, of a separate motor foreach gate, a switch and reverser upon the bridge for controlling theelectric currents whereby the several motors are set in operation, anelectric geueratorand electric connections between the switch andmotors, substantially as specified.

13. The bridge, the gates B R and 'B L guarding one approach, gates G Rand C L guarding the other approach, a motor for each of said gates,circuits controlling said motors, and-a switch on the bridge whereby themotors of the right hand gates may be first energized and thoseof thelefthand gates be sub sequently energized, substantially as specified.

EDlVARD ZAREMBA. ,VVitnesses: II. M. MUNDAY, EDMUND ADCOCK.

